Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House

Wheel of fortune

Winners and losers in a post pandemic economy

Money talks. Here, money-themed cartoons give a visual oration of the year's political and social issues.

We can see the impact of the pandemic on budgets, debt levels and political party positions.

As self-made billionaires indulged in a space race, the economic cost of climate change loomed.

Questions of management and oversight came to the fore. Wealth inequality, support for the vulnerable and our old friend, the pork barrel, made an appearance.

Four panels where Josh Frydenberg is a red inflatable figure. His level of air changes to reflect the economy at the time.

Whiplash Economics

Matt Davidson, The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, 4 September 2021

Josh Frydenberg walks past Anthony Albanese saying 'You're toast!' Parliament House is in the background. A tub of butter is on a billboard with the text: 'Spreadable money' and 'I can't believe it's not a Labor budget!'

Budget Butter

Matt Golding, The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, 18 May 2021

Two panels. One panel is a small extract of the second. The first panel a man crawls out of a hole called 'Recession'. The hole is larger in the second panel, the man crawls out of a small hole on the edge.

The Bigger Picture

Matt Davidson, The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, 6 March 2021

Two people look at clothes on the ground saying, 'They've cast off everything they once believed in'. Josh Frydenberg and Scott Morrison walk towards a 'budget' sun past an 'election' sign pointing the way.

Conversion Road to Recovery

Harry Bruce, Townsville Bulletin, 12 May 2021

Scott Morrison and Josh Frydenberg walk away from a group of children saying, 'We'll leave you generations of debt and climate change. Don't grow up too soon!'

Inheritance

Matt Golding, The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, 17 May 2021

Multiple mini cartoons with various messages about doughnuts and 'doughnut economics'.

Doughnut Dayz

Sarah Firth, Self-published, 11 November 2021

A man uses a walking frame to climb up a hill that is a $100 note.

Home Stretch

Andrew Dyson, The Sydney Morning Herald, 10 March 2021

Two men float around with open champagne bottles and glasses in a spaceship looking at Earth. One says, 'It's humbling how the view from up here reinforces the profound insignificance of everyone else.'

The View from the Top

Jon Kudelka, The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, 24 July 2021

Gladys Berejiklian is on a hospital bed. Scott Morrison stuffs cash into her pillow saying, 'Here... let me plump your pillow Gladys'. Text reads: 'Some Victorians might find this ad distressing'.

NSW PM

David Rowe, The Australian Financial Review, 15 July 2021

Four people in suits sit in front of a map of Australia labelled, 'Australia by electorate'. They discuss paying people to get vaccinated against COVID.

Cash for Votes

Cathy Wilcox, The Sydney Morning Herald, 4 August 2021

Josh Frydenberg and Scott Morrison stand at a 'Robodebt' cage holding someone upside down. In the foreground, pigs wearing top hats eat at a 'Jobkeeper' trough filled with money.

The Politics of Envy

Alan Moir, The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, 11 September 2021

A figure kneels next to a blindfolded Monopoly man, who is slumped on the ground.

Blind Trust

Glen Le Lievre, Patreon, 10 September 2021

Dog store called 'Watchdogs'. Inside are two big, vicious dogs called IBAC and ICAC. A third small dog lies on a sign that reads, 'Federal integrity commish'. Scott Morrison is outside saying 'good boy' to the small dog.

How Much Is that Integrity

David Rowe, The Australian Financial Review, 7 October 2021

A man with a blue tie is relaxing with his hands behind his head. He is at the desk of the 'Department of Consequences'.

Department of Consequences

Reg Lynch, The Sun-Herald, 11 April 2021